EP0494824B1 - Motor vehicle glazing incorporating means of adhesion - Google Patents

Abstract

The automobile glazing (1; 13; 21; 30; 41; 54) is pre-equipped with a profiled frame, which is either one-sided (3; 14; 22; 31; 44) and obtained by extrusion, or [lacuna] (55; 68) which fits it perfectly and is obtained by encapsulation. The frame has at least one rib substantially perpendicular to the glazing which separates two beads, of which one (11; 19; 28; 36; 50; 52; 65), made from a mastic which remains plastic, holds the glazing in position in the window opening whilst the other (10; 18; 27; 37; 48; 64; 75), made from a reactive adhesive, cures. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to an automotive glazing prepared for bonding in the bay of an automotive body and equipped with a frame-shaped profile based on a cured polymer bonded to the glazing.

It is known to simplify the mounting of automobile glazing by using a profile which encloses the edge of the glass or else to equip them on the side of the glazing directed towards the sheet metal of the bay with a profile in the form of a glued frame. In general, the frame-shaped profile which encloses the edge of the glass is made of a thermoplastic PVC polymer or a thermosetting agent such as polyurethane. The implementation technique is the encapsulation in which the glazing is placed in the mold of a machine into which the component (s) which will harden and which will form the frame while making it adhere to the glass is injected after it has been closed. Glazing of this type are known in particular in documents EP-A-0 076 924, US-A-4 139 234 and EP-A-0 145 443. The profiles in the form of a frame which adhere to the edge and a only one side of the glazing is made in particular of two-component polyurethane and is preferably deposited at the edge of the glazing by means of an extrusion nozzle guided by this same edge. Such glazings are described for example in documents EP-A-0 121 481, EP-A-0 307 317 and EP-A-0 345 134.

When the automotive glazing thus prepared must be fixed in the bay after having been provided with a bead of glue, it is necessary to carefully position the glazing in the bay and also to hold it mechanically in place or at least to press it up 'that the bead of adhesive is sufficiently hardened so that the glazing no longer moves under the action of its own weight. In addition to positioning the glazing in its plan, it is also necessary to install in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the bay. Indeed, in particular with very curved glazing, there are curving tolerances at the periphery which must be compensated for by adapting the position of the edge relative to the opening.

To fix the glazing for the duration of the curing of the mounting adhesive, it is known to use metal or plastic splints which deform and which fold around the sheet of the bay (patent DE-A-34 00 428 ). This method requires additional labor to fold the ribs after the glazing has been put in place.

The invention sets itself the task of preparing an automobile glazing of the previous type which can remain in position after its installation in the bay during the curing period of the mounting adhesive without the aid of mechanical accessories while simplifying and by shortening the assembly process.

• a) le cadre profilé possédant du côté dirigé vers la tôle d'appui de la carrosserie au moins une nervure sensiblement perpendiculaire au vitrage,
• b) placé à côté de la nervure et parallèlement à elle, un cordon d'une colle réactive de montage qui est destinée à fixer le vitrage en position dans la baie de la carrosserie en se durcissant sous l'action de conditions atmosphériques données,
• c) placé de l'autre côté de la nervure, un moyen destiné à supporter le poids du vitrage et à le maintenir en place dans la baie de la carrosserie temporairement pendant la phase de durcissement de la colle réactive de montage, ledit vitrage étant caractérisé en ce que ledit moyen est un second cordon de colle en mastic qui garde en permanence sa plasticté.

According to the invention, this object is achieved using glazing of the type described above and disclosed by EP-A-0 345 134, namely automotive glazing prepared for bonding in the bay of a bodywork thanks to a profiled frame of hardened polymer linked to the glazing, with the following means:

• a) the profiled frame having on the side directed towards the support plate of the bodywork at least one rib substantially perpendicular to the glazing,
• b) placed next to and parallel to the rib, a bead of reactive mounting adhesive which is intended to fix the glazing in position in the bay of the bodywork by hardening under the action of given atmospheric conditions,
• c) placed on the other side of the rib, a means intended to support the weight of the glazing and to keep it in place in the bay of the bodywork temporarily during the curing phase of the reactive mounting adhesive, said glazing being characterized in that said means is a second bead of mastic adhesive which permanently retains its plasticity.

An automotive glazing prepared according to the invention makes it possible to meet the requirements for a glazing placed under its conditions of use and this in addition with adhesives with confirmed performance. In addition to its function of adjusting the distance between the glazing and the body sheet, the rib also serves to separate the two adhesives from one another. In addition, the deposition of the two beads of glue is greatly facilitated since the rib serves as a guide for the extrusion nozzles which deposit them. The bead of plastic sealant performs the function of holding the glazing in place until the reactive adhesive can do it itself. To fulfill its function, the putty of this first bead must on one side have good adhesion both on the glazing and on the framing profile deposited on it as on the sheet metal of the bay of the bodywork. But, on the other hand, it must have a viscosity such that when the glazing is placed in position in the opening, on the one hand it deforms in a plastic manner without requiring excessive efforts, but also that it supports the efforts exerted by the glazing under the effect of its weight without deforming. However, since unlike other fixing methods, here the forces caused by the weight of the glazing are distributed over the entire bead of mastic whose length is equal to the perimeter of the glazing, the unitary forces which then act on the cord remain relatively limited and the requirements for the cord which they entail can be satisfied by conventional sealants.

To guarantee the immobility of the glazing during the curing phase of the reactive adhesive, the rib perpendicular to the glazing made of a hardened polymer helps the bead of mastic to fulfill its function. Since it is largely in close contact with the rib, it can lean on it and its deformation on this side is limited. This helps to ensure low deformation for the duration of the setting of the reactive adhesive.

In a particularly indicated development of the invention, the bead of plastic sealant is placed towards the outside, that is to say next to the rib perpendicular to the glazing between the latter and the edge of the sheet.

In addition to its function of temporarily fixing the glazing, the bead of sealant can also provide a sealing function. This is particularly indicated when, for example, the glazing is laminated glass and the interlayer sheet must be protected against the ingress of moisture.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention the profile frame has two neighboring channels which will each accommodate a bead, one of plastic sealant, the other of reactive glue. In this case, the rib perpendicular to the glazing, intended to limit the distance with the sheet metal of the bodywork is advantageously located between the two channels.

Other advantages and details of the invention which correspond to the secondary claims will become apparent on reading the description of the various examples of implementation which follow.

• Fig. 1 : un vitrage monolithique avec un profilé d'encadrement unilatéral,
• Fig. 2 : une variante d'un vitrage monolithique avec un profilé d'encadrement unilatéral à deux canaux,
• Fig. 3 : autre variante d'un vitrage monolithique avec un profilé d'encadrement unilatéral à deux canaux,
• Fig. 4 : autre variante d'un vitrage monolithique avec un cadre profilé, collé d'un seul côté du vitrage,
• Fig. 5 : vitrage feuilleté avec un cadre profilé unilatéral,
• Fig. 6 : autre forme de réalisation d'un vitrage feuilleté préparé selon l'invention,
• Fig. 7 : profilé d'encadrement selon l'invention enchâssant le bord du vitrage monolithique,
• Fig. 8 : autre variante d'un vitrage monolithique équipé d'un cadre profilé l'enchâssant correspondant à l'invention.

The figures successively show:

• Fig. 1: monolithic glazing with a unilateral framing profile,
• Fig. 2: a variant of a monolithic glazing with a unilateral framing profile with two channels,
• Fig. 3: another variant of a monolithic glazing with a unilateral framing profile with two channels,
• Fig. 4: another variant of a monolithic glazing with a profiled frame, glued on one side of the glazing,
• Fig. 5: laminated glazing with a unilateral profiled frame,
• Fig. 6: another embodiment of laminated glazing prepared according to the invention,
• Fig. 7: framing profile according to the invention encasing the edge of the monolithic glazing,
• Fig. 8: another variant of a monolithic glazing fitted with a profiled frame embedding it corresponding to the invention.

In Figure 1, we see a glazing 1 prepared according to the invention to be mounted directly in a body bay. There is shown in the figure a monolithic glazing but it could just as easily be a laminated glazing. The glazing 1 is fitted all along its periphery with a frame 2 consisting of an opaque deposit. This is based on a mineral dye that has undergone cooking. On this frame 2, a profiled frame 3 with an L-shaped section has been placed along the edge of the glazing. This profile 3 which sticks to the opaque coating 2 has a base 4 and a rib 5 substantially perpendicular to the base 4. This profile is deposited directly on the glazing thanks to an extrusion nozzle according to a known method. A device allowing the implementation of the method is described for example in patent EP-A-0 121 481 or EP-A-0 345 134. Preferably, a promoter product is first deposited on the opaque frame 2 of adhesion suitable for the polymers constituting the profile 3. Chemical compounds intended as well to constitute the primer layer as the polymer of the profile 3 are for example single-component polyurethanes hardening with humidity such as those which are described in the US patent -A-3,779,794. Two-component polyurethanes such as those described in European patents EP-A-0 083 797 and EP-A-0 024 501 can also be used.

The rib 5 of the profile 3 has a height H which is calculated as a function of the depth of the rebate of the bay of the bodywork so that when the glazing is installed and the rib 5 is in abutment on the sheet 6 of the bay the surface 7 of the glazing 1 is in continuity with the external surface 8 of the bodywork which surrounds the bay. That is to say, H corresponds substantially to the minimum of the distance between the glazing mounted and the support sheet of the bodywork 6.

Before depositing the two beads 10 and 11 intended for installing the glazing which will be deposited on both sides of the rib 5 in contact with the polymerized profile 3, it is advisable to let the hardening take place. This polymerization can be accelerated in a specially adapted heating channel.

Preferably, the cords 10 and 11 are deposited on the glazing just before it is mounted in the bodywork. The bead of glue 10 which in the case of FIG. 1 is on the side of the viewing area of the glazing 1 is composed of a reactive glue. It will for example be a single-component polyurethane of the same kind as that constituting the profile 3. This adhesive then has the property of adhering perfectly to said profile 3. The bead 10 is deposited using a suitable extrusion nozzle .

On the side of the rib 5 placed towards the outside of the glazing, the bead 11 is deposited, which itself consists of a mastic which permanently retains its plasticity. The cord 11 slightly exceeds the rib 5. Thus when the glazing is installed in the opening, it first comes into contact with the support sheet of the bodywork 6. The bead sealant 11 must have good adhesion to the glass or on the opaque deposit 2. It must be the same on the sheet 6. To avoid deformation of the bead 11 under the action of the weight of the glazing during the hardening of the bead 10, it is the rib 5 of the profile 3 which participates at that time to the support of the glazing since it is in contact over its entire length with the cord 11.

Sealants suitable for constituting the cord 11 are for example based on butyl rubber. One can use for example butyls which are used for the manufacture of one of the two barriers of insulating glazing.

In the example presented in FIG. 2, practically the same materials are used as those in FIG. 1. On the glass sheet 13 we again see an opaque deposit 2 made of hot enamel. Profile 14 is deposited on layer 2. It is again a frame extruded from a polyurethane prepolymer which can be activated by humidity. Its section comprises a rib 15 substantially perpendicular to the surface of the glass and also a rib 16 always perpendicular, parallel to the first but placed towards the inside of the glazing while a rib 17 always parallel to the other two follows the outer edge of the glazing. . The three ribs 15, 16 and 17 define two channels where the cords 18 and 19 will be deposited. The reactive adhesive bead 18 which will play the role of a structural adhesive intended to permanently fix the glazing in the bodywork is here deposited in the channel limited in the ribs 15 and 17 while the bead of mastic 19 is deposited him in the channel limited by the ribs 15 and 16. The intermediate rib 15 is slightly higher than the other two and can therefore play the role of stop limiting the crushing of the two beads of glue.

Figure 3 shows an example in which again the glazing 21, or more precisely the enamelled frame 2, supports the profile 22 extruded directly on the glazing. This profile also here has two grooves in the form of channel, the internal groove is limited by the internal rib 23 and by the middle rib 24 as for the external groove, it is limited by the middle rib 24 and by the external rib 25. Next to this external rib 25 we see a lip 26 which projects outside the glazing 21. The profile 22 is again here, made of a hardened polyurethane. Here the reactive adhesive 27 is deposited in the internal channel between the ribs 23 and 24 while the putty 28 is placed in the external channel between the two ribs 24 and 25.

FIG. 4 shows an example in which it is a two-part profile which has been deposited on the glass 30 or on the enamel 2. The profile comprises a U-shaped part 31 comprising a base 32 and two ribs 33 and 34 and a second part separate from the first consisting of a rib 35. The bead of mastic 36 will be deposited between the ribs 33 and 35, that is to say it will be in permanent contact with the enamel 2. The reactive adhesive bead 37 is located inside the channel limited by the ribs 33 and 34.

Another example of glazing according to the invention is shown in FIG. 5. It is here a laminated glass 40 which comprises an outer glass sheet 41 of dimensions greater than the internal sheet 42. A layer of enamel 2 in frame shape has been deposited on the inner face of the outer glass.

On the internal face of the glass 42 along the edge, was deposited a profiled frame 44 with a U-shaped section comprising a base 45 and two ribs 46 and 47. Again the manufacture of this profile is carried out by an extrusion process directly on the glazing after possible interposition of a layer of adhesion promoter. This profiled frame 44 is intended to receive the bead of reactive adhesive 48. On the peripheral zone of the outer glass 41, the inner side has been deposited equalized by extrusion a rib 49. In this way a channel is formed which will be occupied by the bead 50 of the plastic sealant, this is limited on the one hand by the rib 49 and on the other hand by the rib 47 of the profile 44 as well as by the periphery of the inner sheet 42. The putty is also here a butyl rubber. In addition to its function of holding the glazing in its mounting position during the gripping of the second bead, this bead 50 also plays a sealing function at the periphery of the laminated glazing to protect the thermoplastic interlayer sheet 43.

FIG. 6 also shows an example of laminated glazing 40 consisting of two offset glasses, an outer sheet 41 which is larger than the inner sheet 42. They are combined by means of a thermoplastic interlayer sheet 43. Unlike the example shown in Figure 5 the bead of plastic sealant 52 at the edge of the outer sheet 41 is not limited by an outer rib. The cord 52 is only supported on the rib 47 inwards. The plastic sealant can be used after mounting the glazing to fix an embellished profile that can forcefully penetrate the sealant and close the space that remains between the glazing and the bay wall.

The variants presented in Figures 7 and 8 differ from the previous ones in that the cured polymer frame completely encases the edge of the glazing. Such a frame is deposited by encapsulation, for example by a RIM (Reaction Injection Molding) technique. The frame 55 as it is presented in FIG. 7 in a U-shaped section. One of the branches 56 of the U runs along the outside surface of the edge of the glazing while the other branch 58 runs along the inside surface of the same glazing 54. This branch 58 extends outside in the form of a lip 60. When the glazing is installed in the opening, this lip rests on the external edge 61 of the opening. On the branch 56 of the U, three ribs are placed substantially perpendicular to the glazing 61, 62 and 63. They create between them two grooves in the form of a channel. In the inner channel the bead of reactive adhesive 64 was deposited and in the outer channel the bead of mastic 65. It is obvious that, for the cords 64 and 65, these are materials which have good adhesion characteristics on frame 55. It may have been necessary to treat frame 55 with a product adhesion promoter.

The variant presented in FIG. 8 presents a frame 68 which differs from the previous one in that it is the internal branch of the U which is extended by a lip 70 towards the outside of the glazing which comes to bear on the parallel body part 71 glazing. In addition, the ribs 72 and 73 provided on the inner branch 74 of the U have a section such that they constitute for the reactive adhesive bead 75 a closed channel. In this way, there is a mechanical anchoring between the bead of reactive adhesive 75 and the frame 68. This guarantees that even in the case where a layer intended to facilitate the demolding of said frame is provided on the surface of the frame 68, layer which is non-stick, we will however obtain a good adhesion once the glazing is installed. This system also has the advantage of allowing easy dismantling of the glazing.

Claims (11)

1. Automobile pane (1; 13; 21; 30; 41; 54) prepared for gluing into the opening of a vehicle body by means of a profiled frame of hardened polymer connected to the pane, with

   a. the profiled frame (3; 14; 22; 31; 44; 55; 68) possessing, on the side towards the support plate of the bodywork (6; 57), at least one rib (5; 15; 24; 33; 47; 62; 73) substantially perpendicular to the pane,

   b. a cord (10; 18; 27; 37; 48; 64; 75) of a reactive installation adhesive which is intended for fixing the pane in position in the opening of the bodywork by hardening under the action of given atmospheric conditions, this cord being placed alongside the rib and parallel to it,

   c. on the other side of the rib, there is placed a means intended for supporting the weight of the pane and holding it in place in the opening of the bodywork temporarily during the hardening phase for the reactive installation adhesive, characterized in that said means is a second cord of adhesive (11; 19; 28; 36; 50; 52; 65) of mastic which permanently retains its plasticity.
2. Automobile pane according to Claim 1, characterized in that the cord (11; 19; 28; 36; 50; 52; 65) of mastic which remains plastic is placed on the side of the rib (5; 16; 24; 35; 47; 62; 37) towards the edge of the pane.
3. Automobile pane according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the height of the rib (5; 16; 24; 35; 47; 62; 73) corresponds substantially to the minimum of the distance between the mounted pane and the support plate of the bodywork (6; 57).
4. Automobile pane according to Claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the profiled frame (3; 14; 22; 31; 44; 55; 68) possesses, for creating channel-shaped grooves intended for receiving the cords, at least one second rib (15; 16; 23; 25; 33; 34; 46; 49; 61; 63; 72) substantially perpendicular to the pane.
5. Automobile pane according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the cord of mastic which remains plastic (11; 19; 28; 36; 50; 52; 65) is based upon butyl rubber.
6. Automobile pane according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the cord of reactive adhesive (10; 18; 27; 37; 48; 64; 75) is based upon a prepolymer of single-component polyurethane polymerizing with humidity.
7. Automobile pane according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the cord of reactive adhesive (10; 18; 27; 37; 48; 64; 75) is based upon a multicomponent polyurethane.
8. Automobile pane according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the profiled frame (3; 14; 22; 31; 44) is placed on one side only of the pane and is produced directly by extrusion onto the surface of the pane.
9. Pane according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the profiled frame (55; 68) encompasses the edge of the pane and is produced by an encapsulation technique.
10. Pane according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the channel intended for receiving the cord of reactive adhesive (75) is narrowed by means of the form of the adjacent ribs (72; 73) to ensure a mechanical locking of the cord of reactive adhesive to the profiled frame.
11. Automobile pane according to Claim 10, characterized in that the profiled frame (68) is produced by encapsulation and is coated with an antiadhesive film facilitating demoulding.

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